2 Timothy 2:15
¹⁵Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Casting Crowns is one of my favorite groups and a song called Voice of Truth seems to be stuck in my head this morning.  After a restless night, these words seem to comfort the busyness of other thoughts raging through my mind.

But the Voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says “do not be afraid!”
and the Voice of truth says “this is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth

At this point in the morning, I’m whining…….and I have a NO WHINING sign posted on my desk!  Why do we do that?  When we are so blessed and we just seem to forget to give thanks for all that God has done for us even while we are sleeping.  We are so unaware of all the work in the heavenlies and yet we continue to try and control every situation around us.

There are times when I question, “Why do I have to be this way?  Why is it that other people can do this and I have to do that?” I am reminded of the voice of my Mother who would always says, “Because I said so.” What an incredible woman she is and has been for the past 76 years.  I have learned so much from her and sometimes I hear words come out of my mouth that are much like my Mothers.   What a woman of faith she really is.

Sometimes God says that same things to us, “Because I know what is best for you.  I created you, made you and will sculpt you to become all that you were created to be.” It’s a lot like “boot camp” with God.  We go through that time when there’s a lot of conditioning and sacrifice before we reach a destination of rest and accomplishment.  We are beat down and yet when nothing else makes any sense, there it is…..the voice of truth.

Sometimes when all else seems impossible or life seems to just kick you in the gut, you open your front door and there’s a little surprise hanging on the door.   A bag of peaches from a secret friend or neighbor.  The reminder of God’s family and that we are not alone in the fight, but that the voice of truth has once again said, “Do not be afraid!”

My prayer for you today is that you hear the voice of truth.  Listen for the small voice, see his love in whatever venue today and remember that “it is for his glory!”

 

Fight The Battle

Mark 13:28-30 (New International Version)

28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

It’s been a long time since I’ve written. I’m not really sure where to start. The past couple of years have been a whirlwind of sorts. Learning so many new things, new people in my life, a change in who God was creating me to be, just lots and lots of things that took me away from writing. I can say that it was always in the back of my mind but God wasn’t giving me the words to write. I guess he knew better and that I wouldn’t be able to put to words all the things that were happening at one time.

When give your life over to God, it’s a real struggle at times. We are so accustomed to “doing our own thing, in our timing and what we want” that when we pray about God’s will for our lives, we forget…..he has total control. Like the scenario of getting rid of baggage…we drop it at the altar and then a few days later we miss the baggage and we pick it back up again. It’s a vicious cycle, a rollercoaster of emotions and just not healthy. Every time I’ve done that same thing, I’ve picked up that baggage once again and started that cycle over and over and over. I decided that when I start “missing the baggage” that I ask God to show me the “ugliness” of the baggage instead of longing for something that really has no place in my life right now.

Sometimes you just have to walk away from something you’ve always known, including people, places, reminders of bad times/good times and start fresh. Don’t you just love the smell of clean sheets? Boy, I do! Seems like you get a better nights rest, you are more comfortable and the anticipation of feeling them against your skin. That’s exactly how I feel when I come to God and ask for discernment of events, of circumstances and asking him to heal me of emotional pain, physical pain or just to hear my cries. Knowing that he will work within me to make me clean and help me to feel fresh and new.

I know that God has many plans for my life. I know that he wants me to continue to write and photograph his beauty. I know that he wants me to continue to learn his ways, worship him and to fellowship with others. He also wants me to branch out into uncharted waters and to love others as he loves them. I know that he is preparing me for many things in the future and that he will always be there for me and never leave me, nor forsake me. Just as he promises. Sometimes we have to be willing to listen, learn and be taught. Sometimes the argument isn’t worth the breath that you put in it….but the stillness of a small voice can make a great change in all circumstances.

My prayer for you today is that you find peace, contentment and joy in your life today. God is always present….even when you may think he’s deserted you. Continue to love and have faith….it’s worth the battle.

 

Being Who You Were Created To Be

Ephesians 2:10 (New International Version)

10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

How many people really know the person that you really are? I can say there are very few people in my life that really know all the tragedies of my life, my desires and my shortcomings. They are the people whom I know and trust to be honest and forthcoming with me, to speak in love, and that also see a side of me that isn’t always willing to come forward.

When God reshapes you, molds you, and delivers you from bondage, you are able to be the person he created you to be and called you to be. What matters most is that you are serving him and that he is ultimately the only one that matters in the way you are thought of. What other people think of you doesn’t really matter, it’s what you think of yourself.

When I think about all the dreams, desires, and passions that I have in life, I realize that I am a person who has one thing that some may not have. I truly want to serve others and to be a blessing and positive influence in the lives of other people. I don’t want to be someone who is critical or wants to keep you from being all you can be, but that I want to encourage you to step out and enjoy life. I have not always been that way.

Women are known to be nurturers. Sometimes we mistake nurturing for controlling behaviors. We don’t have to tell people what to do, but to encourage them. Listening has been a skill that I have had to learn and realize that I don’t always have answers for other people’s problems, but they just need someone to vent to. Sometimes they answer their own questions and realize they already had the answers, but they just needed to hear themselves speak it.

Encouragement is defined as following by Dictionary.com: the act of encouraging. Encouraging is: to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.

In my next adventures of life, that is what I truly want to do for others. I want to be the encourager, the help mate, the one who others can depend on for kind words or kind actions when they are in need.

My prayer for you today is that you find encouragement in your everyday life and that you find time to encourage someone else along the way.

Originally written 9-03-07

 

Teaching Others About Christ

 

2 Timothy 1:11-12 ESV

 

For which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.

 

 

 

As I sit and reflect about my own walk with Christ I am reminded that each of us have different gifts and talents.  Upon reading my daily devotional from The Upper Room, today’s devotional was entitled “Sing Your Song.”  Even though I don’t sing in the praise team or choir, I do try to worship through singing.  It makes my heart fill with joy and gladness to be able to put words into a sweet sound heard by our Lord.  I don’t have a professional singing voice, but God hears it with great joy and knows that it comes from my heart.

 

My gift is of writing and teaching small children.  I delight in seeing those little eyes light up when you speak about Jesus and the wonderful stories of ordinary people doing great things for Christ through his power in them.  Each day I want to continue to be “childlike” in my reading of the word and to see that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

 

Several years ago I went on a spiritual retreat, Walk to Emmaus.  As I heard the teachings and sang wonderful songs of praise, I remembered during my life all the times that Jesus had walked so closely with me and I had not recognized him.  Each day he walks closer and closer and he begins to mold and shape me into his likeness.  With each pruning and season, I can see what things he wants me to change and what areas that I have grown in and that he is promoting me to other areas of service to the church and my community.

 

My own son was given an affirmation of praise in his decision to wear a t-shirt from a summer activity which involved my church.  This praise came from the principal of his school.  He has started middle school this year and with this new adventure also comes more challenges and I try to remind him that he is in Christ and that he will be protected daily by prayer and his desire to do the right thing.  Middle School is a hard transition for some children, but with prayer from parents and the praise of those around him who also believe in Christ, I believe his school days are much easier to bear.

 

 

I was also reminded of my duty to teach adults about Christ recently while cleaning at a local manufacturing plant.  I was not sure of why I was there and why I needed to be doing such a menial task, but it became more apparent that we are sent to the places where there is much need in regards to the kingdom.  Another Sister in Christ could see Christ in me and reminded me that she too was there to bring others closer to Christ.  From the moment I met her, I knew there was something different about her and we came together to share our faith during a short break.

 

 

 Regardless of what you do in regards to employment, there are opportunities to share Christ with others.  I am fortunate to teach at my church Day School and even though I would like to just stay within those walls at times, I know that I have been called to reach out to the lost in many areas.  Wherever I go and whatever I do, I am called to preach the good news of salvation to all.  I had to come to grips of sorts with the idea of being outside of my comfort zone in some areas and to be strong in my faith and willing to share about God’s goodness.

 

My prayer for you today is that you remember everywhere you go, that you are called to teach others about God’s love and goodness.  Whether you are the CEO or the janitor, you can reach others around you.

 

Planning For The Future

Joshua 24:15

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

How many times have we been asked the question, “What are your plans for the future?” Sometimes I just shutter at the thought of having to answer someone in knowing that sometimes I don’t have a clue what the future holds or what I see myself doing in 10 years, even in the next 10 minutes. The one thing that I can hold firm to is that Jesus loves me and whatever God’s will is for my life, then that is exactly what will happen. I really don’t need to know ahead of time or have any anticipation but that what happens has been carefully orchestrated in the heavens without any help from me.

Many people say, “Well, you need a plan and how do you plan on getting to that point?” In traveling to a destination, we acan use the GPS or search it on the web and get instant directions, or use a map (which to some people is just a waste of time.) Personally, I would rather look at a map in some cases, since it’s been the way of travel for many years. GPS can sometimes take you off the beaten path and you end up more frustrated than you would have if you had just stopped and asked for directions.

There are so many new gadgets these days and many of them make life so much easier. When we struggle with life’s uncertainties we have the source of truth and guidance always at our fingertips. When I am struggling with a question about life or just needing to hear God speak to me, I take time to read my Bible. The answers don’t always come right away, but in taking the time to pray and meditate, the answers become more clear. Sometimes anxiety will rise up in certain situations or I just don’t get a peace about certain questions that I’m asking God about. If there is not peace, then it’s most likely not of God.

Psalm 118:21 states, “I will praise You, for You have answered me, And have become my salvation.” David was a man after God’s heart. He was a man of many struggles and truly wanted to live in God’s will. I enjoy reading the Psalms and learning the history of where David was at each point in his life where he wrote these passages. Many times in my writings I am at different point in my own life and I hope that by sharing with others, it will help another person in their struggles. It isn’t easy “bearing your soul” pretty much to the whole world, but I do it because God has given me the ability to write and the desire to serve others.

My prayer for you today is that when you are in need of planning for your future that you seek the GPS of many answers, God’s word in your Bible.

 

The Two Windows

Malachi 3:10

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this,

Says the Lord of hosts,

“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven

And pour out for you such blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it.”

Recently in my quiet time with the Lord I saw a vision of two windows. In one window, there were trees that were barren, such as wintertime. In the other window there was a butterfly, a woman bending over with a ponytail, and a small child. In praying about where God’s will was in my life and in order to make some decisions regarding my own life, I realized that God had sent me that I needed to see.

The first window was of a time in my life where things were pretty barren. It was like winter and sometimes we are winter women. We are called to withstand certain circumstances and events in our lives that only make us stronger and more dependent on God. As a winter woman, I know that there is always another spring and God willing, he will provide the needs of our lives in his timing. It’s about waiting and to withstand the darts of the enemy.

The second window was an affirmation of what I had been praying about in regards to whether I wanted to go back to work full time and not continue to teach and just be what society thinks I should be. When I took a job as a Kindergarten Teacher Assistant, I had no idea how I would make it on a small salary and provide for an eleven year old child. Needless to say, every prayer has been answered and every need has been met in many different ways. Some of my needs are met easily by other people and some are met by hard work on my part.

I was given another affirmation in regards to the vision in another astounding way today. I stopped by to visit my Day school and in my classroom was a butterfly in the window where my work table sits. I smiled as I realized that the lead teacher had most likely put it there since she knows my love of butterflies. Yet another affirmation of where God truly wants me to be. I look forward to my school year with great anticipation of the wonderful things that God will do in this classroom as well as in the life of my coworker, the children and in myself.

God is always available to us. We just have to take time to talk to him, to seek his face, to have that relationship with him that he wants to also give us. Jesus is the one true friend that you can count on in any circumstance or situation. He may not always give you the answers that you want, but he will surely give you what you need. Wants and needs are not always the same thing.

My prayer for you today is that you take time to pray about your life circumstances and that you are aware of the way that God speaks to you and shows you what the future may hold. All we have to do is ask and we can receive.

 

Joy In The Morning

Psalm 30:5

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

As I start to write this morning, I am reminded that joy can come into our lives first thing in the morning. If we get up with a “cranky” attitude, then the rest of our day will result in that same attitude. Coffee is one of my favorite things, and that first cup of coffee in the morning is the jolt that I need to get going. If we incorporate our Bible reading into this time and get up just a few minutes earlier, we would have a much better perspective on how to approach the upcoming day. Like many of us, we get up hurried and that’s how the rest of our day seems to turn out and Satan has a much easier chance of jumping into our lives and adding much more chaos and calamity to our somewhat simple world.

I began to research the above passage in the NIV Study Bible, it first referred me to the verse 2:5, where it says, “anger, wrath; God’s anger is always an expression of his righteousness, 7:11 says, “every day, God’s judgments are not kept in store for some future day, and 4:1 also says, “very often the righteousness of God in the Psalms (and frequently in the OT) refers to the faithfulness in which he acts.” Verse 54:7 also says, “remain lit for a night.” Lit refers to “come in at evening to lodge”, the figure is that of a guest lodging for only one night.

Recently I watched a movie where a core sentence was used many times throughout, “finding our center”. How do we find our center? One of Dictionary.com definitions of center is: a point, place, person, etc. upon which interest emotion, etc., focuses. If you were to center on joy each day and use it as the focus of your day, how much of a difference would it make? A few days ago, I went to the Boy Scouts Store to purchase a new scout uniform for my son. An attendant at the store had the surname, Joy. As she began to help me with my purchase, I noticed a “spark or joy” in her body language as well as her delight to share with me in my area of questioning about why her Mother named her Joy. She said, “I was my Mother’s JOY.” Wow, how she must have felt to know that she was her Mother’s joy and it gave me the “gospel goose bumps” in remembering that we are also God’s joy. What a pleasure it was to meet JOY.

I have also met HOPE. Hope, a black cat, was awaiting adoption at PetSmart. She was a playful, seven year old, positioned in the top cage beside Patches. Hope and Patches both rallied for my affection, my touch and my fingers to play with. She wouldn’t let me see as much of her as Patches, but she would glance with one eye at me as if she were smiling and presenting a glimpse of what could be a sweet experience with her, but was reluctant to let me rub her for an extended time. Her information card read: Very loving, affectionate, and has been waiting for a loving home for a long time. Hope had been waiting a long time…….is that how it is for many of us? Hope has been waiting for a long time and we are now receiving a glimpse of what God has promised us for some time, in his perfect timing?

This morning as I awoke to a marvelous landscape, the mountains of Asheville, NC. I can see how beautifully alive God’s creations are. I can see why Billy Graham loves this area so much. It’s God Country. The air is crisp and clean, the scenery is grand and luxurious. I stare in amazement of the wonders that only God could have created. Each mountain is placed with precision nestled amongst another, just as we are placed in specific places at different times of our lives. God has a perfect plan for everything, if we are faithful in our decision to follow him and leave our lives in his hands.

My prayer for you today is that you look at the wonders of God’s creations and become childlike again to his HOPE and JOY that continue to bless each of us.

 

Mounds or Almond Joy

  

Luke 1:14 (NIV)

14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.

“Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.  Almond Joy’s got nuts, Mounds don’t.”  Remember that commercial?  I just love both of those candy bars.  And sometimes I feel like a nut and sometimes I don’t.  So, where am I going with this…..I’m really not sure. 

I did some further study on Mounds and Joy.  Mounds is defined as the following by Dictionary.com:  A pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris heaped for protection or concealment.  Joy is defined as:  the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.

Wikipedia.com gave the following account of the Mounds and Almond Joy candy bars:  Mounds is a candy bar made by Hershey’s, and is the sister product of Almond Joy. Like Almond Joy, it consists of a coconut based center; however, it is topped with dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate and has no almond in its center.

Mounds uses a packaging and logo design similar to its sister product, with Almond Joy’s blue replaced by red. The candy’s famous 1970s ad campaign used a jingle, “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t”, written by Leon Carr.

The Mounds was created by the grandpa McNeely in 1920 as a single piece for 5 cents. The format changed to two pieces that still sold for 5 cents, with the price rising to 10 cents after World War II.  The Almond Joy bar was introduced in 1946 as a replacement for the Dream Bar (created in 1936) that contained diced almonds with the coconut.

What I am finding out is that even when there is a mound or pile of debris that is heaped for protection or concealment, that on the other hand there is joy caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying as the end result.  Ok, where did I get that from?  I was thinking about something that was said to me not long ago about a certain prayer I had and someone said, “I think God is protecting you from that situation, because it is not the right timing or for some other reason.”   

Sometimes we do things because “we feel like a nut” or we don’t because we are being covered by the hands of our heavenly Father.   And sometimes it takes a few years to find a “sister/partner” that brings joy to your life and uncovers the heap of protection that you have put around yourself by gently caring and tending to your needs as well as their own.  We all need to find someone that we can depend on in times of crisis and to share their company.  God did not intend for us to be alone in this world and that’s why he created woman for man, from man’s own body.

I’m not really sure where I’m going with all this, but I guess I’ll find out soon enough.  Sometimes underneath the mound of solicitude you have created for yourself, you will arise victoriously in joy for reaching out to another. 

My prayer for you is that sometimes when you “feel like a nut,” it’s okay.  And sometimes “when you don’t,” it’s still okay.  We are all different and that’s how God made us but to enjoy each others differences and be partners in this great adventure called life.

 

Putting The Pieces Back Together

  

Hosea 6:1 (NIV)

 1 “Come, let us return to the LORD.
       He has torn us to pieces
       but he will heal us;
       he has injured us
       but he will bind up our wounds.  

 My son received a race track for Christmas.  One early morning as I was preparing to write my devotionals I tripped on the track and had to put the pieces back together.  As I placed each piece together I began to look at the track and see that in the cross sections there were the words, “Caution and Danger.”    It became apparent to me that even in the crossroads of our own lives that we will have caution and danger.  But that these pieces were held together by the cross. 

Luke 9:23 (NIV) states: Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.    As I am sitting here I am listening to a song by Lee Ann Womack, After I Fall, and a significant verse to me is the following:  It’s as clear as a blue sky, I don’t fear you telling me a lie, So I’ll become your only dancer, and let the sunrise bring the answer.  Chorus:  After I fall where do I stand, After my heart is in your hands, And you’ve got it all, After I fall where do I stand, After I’ve loved you all I can, Will I just stand tall, After I fall.

It’s early morning and I am anticipating the sunrise and what this new day has to bring.  A friend said to me about the New Year, “What we do on the first day of the New Year is how our whole year will be.  It’s about our attitude and how we will approach the things of the New Year.”   In reading my Bible this morning, I came across something that T.D. Jakes wrote:  “If people are upset with your deliverance and your praise, consider their “upset-ness” to be their problem.  Don’t try to explain yourself or justify your praise.  Just remain standing and keep praising.” 

When we fall, we can stand back up and go on with life.  We may have to get a different attitude in regards to the days ahead.  We can see the light at the end of tunnel and expect better days and we can just praise in the midst of calamity and chaos.  There are times when the burdens of life just seem to keep falling in all around us, but I find that when I praise God in the midst of all the “junk” my day is better and that my life seems to take new shape and decisions are easier to make and that I don’t have to explain anything to anyone who really knows me.  They are content with the fact that my relationship with God is truly my relationship with him. 

T.D. Jakes also says, “Love is not immature.  It is not for the frivolous.  Love requires maturity, and it can require discipline and a great deal of trust.”   I find that when I think about the love that Jesus has for me that it also requires trust on my part.  He can only come into a heart that trusts him completely.  He has to know that he is the foundation for all the reasons that you are willing to open yourself to him. 

My prayer for you today is that you find trust and love in the one who wants to give you much more in life than you can give yourself.  His love is sufficient for all our needs.